Do you want to learn how to fold an easy origami bird from paper? Maybe you’re looking for beginner-friendly models, or want to try your hand at some complex origami sculptures. Whatever your skill level, here’s a list of amazing origami bird projects, from basic designs like a traditional crane or a swan, to a detailed full-sized 3d origami peacock.
Some of these projects use modular origami, where multiple folded pieces come together to create a larger sculpture. Start with this tutorial if you want more info on modular projects, then just follow the links below to get a project going! Also, please visit my Origami Animals page for more paper animal projects!
Paper Birds of a Feather…
If you’re just starting out, these easy origami bird projects below are a great place to begin. They’re easy and don’t require a lot of experience. The key is to start simple and gradually increase the difficulty as you gain confidence. While the crane is the most popular origami bird (and I have a separate list for that), these basic designs are even easier and offer variations that aren’t as complex.
- Cute and Easy Bird Origami at Easy Paper Origami
- Another simple bird origami with a slimmer design at Colors Paper
- Standing Bird Model at Easy Paper Origami
- Origami bird with outstretched wings at simple Art and crafts
- Flapping Bird Origami at PPO
Origami Crane Paper Birds
We can’t talk about origami without mentioning the most iconic and beloved designs: The origami crane, symbolizing long life and good fortune. A popular tradition from Japan is folding 1000 cranes, which is believed to bring wishes and good health. This undertaking takes time and patience, but it’s a great project for both beginners and pros, and it’s pretty meditative too. Here’s some tutorials on both traditional crane bird origami designs and variations.
- Traditional Origami Crane at Japanese American National Museum
- Another Crane with a slower tutorial at JustOrigami
- Traditional Origami Crane II with fanned-out wings at Idunn Origami
- Standing crane variation by David Donahue
Traditional & 3D Origami Swans
The origami swan is a wonderful project, especially if you want to go beyond the common crane. Traditional origami is typically made with one square sheet of paper, while the modular or 3D origami is building a sculpture from smaller pieces, like legos! You can make some amazing swans with both traditional and 3d origami, so I’ve listed both kinds for you to try.
Traditional Swans
- Easy Paper Swan – Model 1 and Model 2 at Easy Paper Origami
- Origami master Akira Yoshizawa’s Origami Swan at origamibycoco
- Origami Swan by Robert J. Lang, excellent tutorial at Rob’s World
- Another origami swan, designer unknown, at Paper Crafts 1101
3D Origami Swans
Like I mentioned earlier, start with this tutorial at 3dorigamivideos if you want to know the basics of modular origami, and the channel also has a ton of other tutorials for variations!
- Easy 3d swan for beginners at Arthur 3D origami
- Another 3d swan for beginners at CraftSCreation & kidz rhyme box
- A larger 3D Origami Swan model at 3dorigamivideos
- 3D Origami Swan with upturned wings at 3dorigamivideos
Dove Origami and Other Paper Birds
The dove, a universal symbol of peace, is simple, beautiful, and perfect for beginner origami. Additionally, you’ll find other super cute projects below like the hummingbird, duck, and peacock origami, to name a few. Whether you’re just starting or looking for more of a challenge, I hope you enjoy the variety of origami bird projects you can do!
Origami Doves
- Easy Dove Origami in 3 minutes at Origami Princess
- Another Easy Dove tutorial at White Origami
- An Easy Dove Variation at Paper Magic with Bernice
Other Origami Bird Designs
- Easy Paper Duck at Paper Toy Art
- Baby Rubber Ducky! at Paper Crafts 1101, designed by Hoàng Tiến Quyết
- Full Size 3D Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, both at Maika’s 3D Origami Collections
- Hummingbird, Model 1 at 123 Easy Paper Crafts DIY
- Hummingbird Model 2 with finer details at 123 Easy Paper Crafts DIY
- Parrot Origami at Ash art & craft studio
- Goose Origami at 123 Easy Paper Crafts DIY
- Goose Origami designed and folded by Jo Nakashima, inspired by Untitled Goose Game!
- Peacock Origami at Easy Origami – Yakomoga
- Peacock Origami, another design with adjustable (up or down) tail feathers at Origami Streets
- 3D Origami Peacock, large and colorful model at CraftSCreation & kidz rhyme box
Fold and Flock Together
Origami birds come in all sorts of shapes and skill levels—whether you’re making an easy dove origami or tackling a detailed 3D origami swan. From doing a simple paper folding duck project to a beautiful crane, every paper bird can be very meaningful, symbolic, and so very fun. Spread your origami wings and happy folding!